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Jul 01, 2025
4 min read

“Science Isn’t a Worldview. But You’re Using It Like One.”

“Why science alone can’t answer life’s biggest questions.”
Naturalism Part 1 of 7

You believe in science.
So do I.

That’s not the problem.

The problem is when we ask science to carry more than it can hold.
When we treat it like a worldview instead of a method.
When we use it to explain things it was never meant to explain.

And then—without even realizing it—we stop asking the deeper questions altogether.


What Science Actually Does

Science is one of the greatest achievements in human history.

It can:

  • Analyze the structure of matter
  • Predict the behavior of physical systems
  • Decode the patterns of DNA
  • Send probes to other planets
  • Eradicate diseases
  • Build the phone in your pocket

But here’s the catch:

Science is descriptive, not prescriptive.
It tells you how things work—not why they matter.

It can:

  • Tell you what the brain is doing
    …but not what the mind means.
  • Tell you what chemicals are present in a painting
    …but not whether it’s beautiful.
  • Measure neural activity during grief
    …but not explain why it hurts to lose someone you love.

Science can tell you what is.
It cannot tell you what should be.

That’s not a weakness.
That’s design.


But We Keep Asking Science for More

Somewhere along the line, we started expecting science to answer all of life’s questions.

We started saying things like:

Only what can be scientifically proven is true.

At first glance, that sounds rational.

But here’s the problem:
That statement can’t be scientifically proven.

You can’t run an experiment on it.
You can’t test it in a lab.
You can’t falsify it.

Which means: it’s a philosophical claim, not a scientific one.

The irony?
If it were true… it would disprove itself.

So we’re left with a quiet contradiction that most people never notice:

We believe in science.
But we’ve started to use it like a worldview.

And the moment we do, we start treating every problem like a technical glitch.
We lose the vocabulary to talk about meaning.
We mistrust anything that can’t be measured.
And slowly, we stop asking the questions that make us most human.


What Science Can’t Tell You

Here are a few questions science will never answer for you:

  • Why are we here?
  • Is love real or just an illusion?
  • What is good, and why does it matter?
  • Is it wrong to lie?
  • Is justice worth the cost?
  • What does it mean to be a person?
  • Do people have dignity, or are we just useful machines?

These aren’t lesser questions.
They’re the questions underneath everything else.

Science can help you build a rocket.
It cannot tell you where it should go—or whether it’s okay to use it as a weapon.

Science can optimize a social media algorithm.
It cannot tell you whether using it to addict people is evil.

We need more than data.
We need a way to interpret what matters.


The Method Is Powerful—But It Isn’t Enough

To be clear:
This isn’t an argument against science.

It’s an argument for not mistaking it for something it isn’t.

You wouldn’t ask a microscope to explain a symphony.
You wouldn’t use a calculator to understand heartbreak.

So why would we ask science to carry the weight of morality, meaning, beauty, or truth?

Science is a tool.
An amazing one.
But it needs a framework to make sense of what it finds.

Otherwise, it’s like walking through a museum blindfolded, taking notes on temperature and humidity—while missing the art.


Final Word: Don’t Settle for a Smaller World

Science has limits—not because it’s weak, but because it’s focused.
It was never meant to replace philosophy, ethics, or wonder.

So here’s the invitation:

Don’t let a method become your map.
Don’t let a lab coat become your lens for all of life.
And don’t stop asking the questions science can’t answer.

Because once you do… you might discover that the world is bigger, deeper, and more meaningful than you were ever taught to expect.

Naturalism Series

  1. Part 1
    “Science Isn’t a Worldview. But You’re Using It Like One.”
    “Why science alone can’t answer life’s biggest questions.”
  2. Part 2
    “The Universe Runs on Code. So Who Wrote the Syntax?”
    “Exploring the implications of information systems in biology and the question of their origin.”
  3. Part 3
    “Naturalism Isn’t Neutral. It’s Just Small.”
    Naturalism claims to be a neutral, fact-based worldview. But in reality, it’s a small story that cuts off the deepest parts of being human.
  4. Part 4
    “Faith Isn’t Blind. It’s the Foundation of Everything.”
    Everyone has faith. The real question is: What is your faith built on?
  5. Part 5
    “What If the Resurrection Is the Most Rational Claim in History?”
    Exploring the historical and philosophical case for the resurrection of Jesus as the cornerstone of a coherent worldview.
  6. Part 6
    “You’re Not a Brain in a Jar. So Now What?”
    Exploring the historical and philosophical case for the resurrection of Jesus as the cornerstone of a coherent worldview.
  7. Part 7
    “Live Like It’s True - A Framework for Following Jesus When You’re Just Starting Out.”
    Exploring how to live out the Christian faith authentically when you're new to it.